Cushioning device for seats and the like



M 15, 1935. Y M. HfiILLER ,0

CUSH IONING DEVICE FOR SEATS AND THE LIKE Filed June 27, 1954 2Sheets-Sheet 1 July 16, 1935. M. HELLER 2,008,392

CUSHIONING DEVICE FOR SEATS AND THE LIKE Filed June 27, 1934 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 16, 1935 UNITED STATES 2,008,392 CUSHIONINGDEVICE FOR- SEATS AND THE Maximilian Heller, Vienna, Austria ApplicationJune 27, 1934, Serial No. 732,676

In Austria August 31, 1933 3 Claims. (Cl. 155-179) This inventionrelates to a cushioning device for seats and the like of the kindcomprising a plate attached by means of resilient, tensile supportingmembers to the seat frame, and the invention consists in variousimprovements of the device as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the first place plateand supporting member are so arranged at theseating edge as to occupy a projecting position in order to render theedge resilient. Moreover, when the cushioning device is applied to theback rest of the chair, means are provided for maintaining the plate ina forwardly projecting position relative to the frame. Means are alsoprovided, in conjunction with the back frame, for covering the plate andsupporting members with a detachably arranged cushion.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings in connection, with an arm chair.

Fig. 1 shows a skeleton of the chair in perspective view,

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modification of the cushioningelement,

Fig. 3 is a perspective rear view of an additionto the principalcushioning device,

Fig. 4 is a perspective rear view of a chair to which this addition,partly broken away, has been applied, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective, fragmentary view of the addition.

The cushioning device comprises a platewhich is maintained in a floatingposition relative to the supporting frame by laterally extending,elastic elements. Fig. 1 shows the device as applied to an arm chairhaving a seat frame a and a back frame d. The longitudinal members ofthe frame a. are interconnected by means of cross members b and c, andthose of the back frame are interconnected at the top by a cross member6. The cushioning plate, which is parallel to the longitudinal framemembers and much narrower than the frame, is bent at o in Fig. 1 to forma seat portion f and a back portion h. The seat portion of the plate iskept in its floating position by means of coil springs g which arestrung between the plate and the longitudinal frame members. The upperend of the back portion-is secured to a bow spring 7c, and itis furthersupported by coil spring 11. connected to curved leaf springs m. Thesprings It and m maintain the plate portion h in an advanced positionrelative to the frame 11. This is a particular feature of the invention.

As a further feature of the invention, it should be noted that the frontend of the plate 1 and the supporting members g at this end occupy aprojecting position relative to the cross member I) of the frame a,thereby producing a resilient seating edge.

' In the modified arrangement shown in Fig. 2, the cushioning plate ismade in two separate portions f and h one for the seat and the other forthe back rest. The portion f is supported by coil springs g as 'alreadydescribed. The por tion h is supported-by two sets of springs m, 11. andin addition by two coil springs Z which replace the cross; member e ofthe former construction and which thus provide a back rest with aresilient top edge.

While the upholstery of the chair can be carried out-in. any. convenientmanner, the back rest of the chair is preferably treated as illustratedin Figs. 3 5. A cushion 10, adapted to cover and bear against the plateIt or 11. and the supporting springs, is connected at the top edge to asheet q adapted to cover the rear surface of the chair. The sheet q isconnected to the rear faces s of the frame at in a. detachable manner,preferably through the medium of press buttons r. This arrangementallows the cushioning springs full freedom of movement.

In the absence of the cross member e of the back rest, the springelements may be comple mented by a flexible steel strip zinterposedbetween the sheet q and the upper edge of the cushion p. The ends y ofthe strip may be bent at an angle and adapted to enter slots 22 in theframe members to which they can be locked by means of lugs :12 which arebent ofi from'plates u and adapted to engage the members y.

The device may be modified within the scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims. For instance the cushioning plate or plates maybe divided longitudinally into two or more strips which are spaced andinterconnected by springs. Springs may also be used for interconnectingthe contiguous ends of the plates f and h in Fig. 2.

I claim:

l. A chair comprising a seat frame having side members and a frontmember which is lower than theside members, a back frame connected tosaid seat frame, a cushioning plate for each frame arranged parallel tothe side members thereof, resilient tensile supporting members strungbetween the side members of the seat frame and the appertainingcushioning plate for holding the latter in a floating position above thelevel of the front member of the frame, curved leaf springs connected toand projecting forward from the side members of the back frame, and

resilient tensile supporting members strung between said leaf springsand the appertaining cushioning plate for holding the latter in aforwardly projecting position relative to the frame.

2. A chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cushioning plates of thetwo frames are combined into one structure. 7

3. The structure claimed in claim 1 in combination with a flexible steelstrip arranged as a top member on the back frame, and means on saidlatter frame for holding the ends of said steel strip in a slidablemanner.

MAJHMILIAN HELLER.

